Answers still being sought in Bedford home invasion

When an anesthesiologist and his wife were attacked inside their Bedford home Nov. 24, police warned residents to lock their doors and turn on their security systems, saying they didn't know who the attacker was and if he would strike again.

Two months later, Dr. Eduardo W. Quesada's wife, Sonia, 29, was found dead in what authorities say is a separate incident, the couple's 7 Proclamation Court home has been sold, yet little is known about what, if any, progress has been made in the home invasion.

State police who are assisting Bedford police with the investigation and with processing the crime scenes say that's partly because all the answers aren't known yet.

Motive, for one, continues to dog investigators.

"Everything is still on the table until there is concrete evidence (about why) the Quesadas were targeted. I don't think that's been established yet," State Police Capt. David Parenteau said Friday.

"Someone just didn't pick that house out of the air," he added of the four-bedroom, 5,900-square-foot house that sold Jan. 9 for $1,350,000.

"It's a classic whodunit. It takes a lot of investigative effort. You have to look at all possibilities and not exclude anyone until you get the evidence" that hopefully will lead to an arrest, said Parenteau, commander of the investigative services bureau.

Bedford police remain lead investigators in the case. They would not comment Friday on the status of the investigation, referring all media inquiries to Hillsborough County Attorney Patricia LaFrance. LaFrance did not return several telephone calls.

Parenteau stressed progress is being made.

"They continue to work on this daily. They are looking at many different individuals...who may have been in contact with the Quesadas. They are trying to focus in and ferret out people who may not have been involved," Parenteau said.

"It's by no means a stagnant investigation where there is absolutely no area to look into," he added.

"The Bedford Police Department, with us assisting them, are out there tracking down leads and people who have had contact with the Quesadas in many different areas," he said.

An intruder confronted Dr. Quesada and his wife, Sonia, when they returned to their 7 Proclamation Court home about 10 p.m. Nov. 24. There was evidence of a violent struggle. Dr. Quesada reportedly suffered a severe head injury. His wife, also wounded, ran to a nearby home where the neighbor called 911. Both husband and wife were hospitalized for injuries. Their 2-year-old daughter was home at the time, but not hurt.

The New Hampshire Union Leader has learned there were signs of forced entry at the 7 Proclamation Court home.

The couple later described their assailant as a man at least 6-feet-tall, wearing a black ski mask and dark clothes.

It is not known if there was more than one intruder or if he arrived on foot or car. Police would not say if anything was missing from the home or if the attack is connected to Dr. Quesada's work as an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. The house was on the market when the attack happened.

Bedford Police Chief John J. Bryfonski earlier this month said the description of the masked intruder dressed in black remains valid and the investigation active.

Six weeks after the attack, Sonia Quesada was found dead and her husband unconscious inside his mother's 49 Kensington Lane home on Jan. 7. A large amount of prescription medications was in the room, authorities have said.

Officials maintain the two incidents are separate. Unlike the forced entry found at 7 Proclamation Court, there were no signs of forced entry at the Kensington Road condominium and no visible signs of trauma to either spouse, officials have said.

Officials are waiting for toxicological test results to determine cause and manner of her death. The medical examiner has said her death does not appear to be a homicide.

One theory police are exploring is whether the Nov. 24 home invasion was the result of a burglary gone awry. At a Dec. 1 media conference, Chief Bryfonski noted burglaries "are one of the major problems here in Bedford."

A builder working on a house next door to 7 Proclamation Court and another Proclamation Court resident have said police approached them about a month before the home invasion asking about an attempted burglary in the neighborhood.

Bedford police released statistics showing there were a 37 burglaries - 27 residential and 10 commercial - and four attempted burglaries in 2012. This compares with 34 residential and 16 commercial burglaries in 2011. There were three attempted burglaries that year. Police would not provide locations where the burglaries happened.

Dr. Quesada is listed as an anesthesiologist at the Pain Management Center at Elliot Hospital and member of Amoskeag Anesthesia PLLC in Manchester. He married Sonia Varela in Meredith in April, 2010, according to town documents. Their 2-year-old daughter was born in September of that year.